James Monroe 1758-1831
5th president of the United States
1817-1825
Democratic-Republican
Vice President-Daniel D. Tompkins (1817-1825)

Overall James Monroe deserves a B for his presidency. He deserves a B because for his experience in politics, what he did in office, and his negotiation skills with France as wells as with the Native Americans.

While in office James Monroe was an accomplished president as well as a good politician. While in office in 1820 Monroe passed the Missouri Compromise which states that Missouri was now a slave state and the admission of Maine is now declared as a free state. Also in 1823 he passed the Monroe Doctrine, which was declaring that the United States opposition to European interference in the Americas.

Monroe was a successful politician before he entered office. In 1782 Monroe was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and served in the Continental Congress from 1783-86. He also tried to run for the 1st seat but was defeated by the future president James Madison. In 1790 Monroe was elected the U.S. senator. However Monroe resigned form Senator to become the ambassador of France in 1794. As the ambassador Monroe secured Thomas Paine when he was arrested for his opposition to Louis XVI execution.

While out of office Monroe returned to the states to study law in Virginia were he became governor. While as governor during the Rebellion of Gabriel Monroe sent out a militia to restrain Gabriel and the other 26 enslaved people. When the people were captured they were hung. In reaction to this Rebellion, Virginia and the other legislatures passed restrictions on free blacks.



Monroe was sent to France in order to assist Robert R. Livingston to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase and in 1806 he presented a treaty to Britain to replace the Jay treaty in 1794. Monroe later returned to Virginia and he was elected for Governor in 1811 however he resigned a few months in. He served as Secretary of State from 1811-1814. His position ended at the end of President James Presidency, the following day Monroe became President.

While in office Monroe appointed a southerner John C. Calhoun as Secretary of War and the northerner John Quincy Adams as Secretary of State. In order to build the nations trust Monroe sent out on two national tours in 1817. While as President Monroe vetoed the Cumberland Road bill which was providing yearly improvements to the road however Monroe saw this act as unconstitutional for the government to play a large hand in a civics bill. He also passed the Missouri Compromise which resolved the struggle as Missouri became a slave state and Maine becoming a free state. The Missouri Compromise lasted until 1857 when it was declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court as a part of the Dred Scott case.

During the Seminole wars Monroe sent future President Andrew Jackson to lead a campaign in Georgia against the Seminoles and the Creek Indians. Jackson was also charged with the responsibility of preventing Spanish Florida into becoming a refuge for runaway slaves. The leader of the Choctaws Pushmataha met with Monroe and John Calhoun the Secretary of War in order to discuss a longstanding alliance Between the U.S. and the Choctaw Indians.

In conclusion James Monroe was overall a pretty decent president. He had years of politics, what he did in office with the Missouri compromise and the Seminole war, and his negotiating skills with the French as well as the Native Americans







"James Monroe." Http:www.millercenter.org. University of Virginia. Web. 1 Oct. 2009. <http://www.millercenter.org>.

"James Monroe." Http:en.wikipedia.org. 29 Sept. 2009. Web. 1 Oct. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org>.